The possible nuclear abilities of Pakistan’s JF- 17 Thunder Block II airplane have been clarified by a new image that was captured during the 2023 Pakistan Day Parade rehearsals. The image shows a JF- 17 carrying an apparent Ra’ad air-launched cruise missile ( ALC M), which is the first public look at this configuration.
The Federation of American Scientists ( FAS ) confirmed that the fighter jet was equipped with a Ra’ad I nuclear missile after looking at images of a JF- 17 Thunder Block II from the 2023 Pakistan Day Parade rehearsals. ” Importantly, this was the first time for a design had been observed in public”, the FAS said in its record.
Comparisons were made between Ra’ad I and Ra’ad II weapons displayed in past Pakistan Day parades to determine the specific kind of Ra’ad weapon in the photo. Physical characteristics did not clearly distinguish the two versions until 2022, when the Ra’ad- II, second unveiled in 2017, was claimed to have almost double the selection capability of the Ra’ad- I. The latest Ra’ad- II, displayed in 2022 and 2024, features a different’ x- formed’ tail fin design, while the missile photographed on the JF- 17 more strongly resembles the’ twin- tail’ configuration of the Ra’ad- I, the FAS report said.
Using Photoshop’s Vanishing Point function and research measurements from the lorries carrying the weapons, the lengths of the Ra’ad- I and Ra’ad- II were estimated to be around 4.9 meters each. The weapon on the JF- 17 was likewise measured using the plane’s size as a guide, resulting in a similar 4.9- meter estimate. These measurements, along with the tail fin design, suggest that the weapon observed on the JF- 17 is probably the Ra’ad- I ALCM rather than the newer Ra’ad- II or the regular anti- ship feature, Taimoor, the FAS report by Eliana Johns said.
The image demonstrates that Pakistan has made significant progress in providing its JF- 17s with the ability to replace or supplement the Mirage II I/Vs ‘ aging nuclear strike role. Questions remain about the status of the Ra’ad systems ‘ deployment and whether Pakistan will continue to have the ability to launch cruise missiles exclusively or switch to stand-off cruise missiles.
These developments occur in the midst of a persistent nuclear weapons conflict in the area, with Pakistan, India, and China pursuing advanced technologies like multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicles ( MIRVs ). Concerns about a potential conflict between India and Pakistan have grown as a result of Pakistan’s increased tensions and the development of short-range, low-density nuclear weapons.
